Process for the treatment of metals and alloys.



UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE BRYANT, OF FINSBURY PARK. LONDON, AND CHARLES HORACE IVINSON. F

ILFORDHENGLAND; SAID BRYANT ASSIGNOR TO SAID IVINSON. i

PROCESS FOR THE TREATMENT OF IVIETALS AND ALLOYS. 1

No Drawing.

I To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, Geonou BRYANT, of 1? .Iilackstoelr road, l inslmryPark, in the county cf London. lug-land, and (Enhance .lzlouaer;.IYIXNUN, ot Wyngarth, Ualrfield toad, l llorrl. in the county of Essex,England, subjects of the King of England, have invcntrd a new anduseful. Process for the Treatment of Metals and Alloys, of which thefollowing is a specification.

i This invention relates to a process for the treatment of metals andalloys, including solders, which melt at a comparatively lowtemperature, with chemical reagents that will purify the same to somedegree by cleaning them with fluxes to remove unclesirahh-i substances,such as silica, oxide of extraneous metals, etc. Such metals, moreover,mix and alloy readily with one another when in. a molten state. In thecase of the solder oxidation is prevented so that perfect union ofthesolder with the metal or alloy to be joined is secured.

The process consists essentially in bringing the i'netals or alloys,while in a molten state and in a fine state of sub-division, intocontact with'a flux or successively into contact With solventscontaining the chemical reagents in a state of solution. After treatmentthe particles are removed and may he remelted {or use.

A preferred method consists in passing the molten metal through a sieveand allowing the minute drops to fall into the cleaning solution, orlayers of solutions containing the chemical reagents which have afluxing action that tend to remove impurities from the surfaces of thedrops. The sieve or the like should be placed very near the surface ofthe liquid into which the minute drops are to fall, so that the metalsmay-be perfectly molten when reaching the liquid.

As suitable fluxes various mctallic salts may he used, such as chloride,cyan-ids,

' chrou'iates, ferro-cyanids, vanadates, molyhdates; or instead suitableacids and alkalis may be employed; Also sulfur, phosphorus,

' iodin, and similar elements dissolvedin oil,

fats, waxes, petroleum, turpentine, alcohol and water may be used asfluxes.

'lhe 'lollowingls an example of the treatlw-nt of one metal by theforegoing process:-Zinc is melted and then passed through a sieve tofinelydivide the same, and these particles are then passed throughSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 9, 1 909. Serial No. 512,000.

Patented Au 29, 1911.

two solutions, viz :an oil solutiono't' phosphorus, and 'a Watersolution of Zinc ehlo rid or ammonium ehlo'i'id', the oil solutionfloating upon the surface of the water sol 1.1-" tion. The resultinggranulated metal al loys practically instantaneously with molten copperproducing brass alloys of regular composition, free from oxid andextremely tough. In the case of solder the SubStQD'i Q'. is melted andtreated in like manner.

It would appear that the action which takes place is complex. Generallythe reagent in the oil solution combines with the oxids on the metal oralloy treated and the product formed is removed by being dissolved inthe water solution, the presence of dissolved fluxes in this solutionfacilitating the solution.

It will 'be understood that the chemical substances are chosen accordingto the nature of the metal and the impurities to. be removed. lVhere.two solutions are used We prefer to simplifythe process to have the solutionS in layers in the same vessel, for instance we may have a'solution of chemical substances in oil, which latter solution is floatedon top of the former so that the drops of molten metal pass through thefluxes in a particular order, as in the case of the example given above.In practice it is found convenient'in the example given to float thesolution of phosphorus in oil upon the solution of zinc chlorid andWater, as this saves the necesisty of melting the'metal a second time.

What is claimed is 1. The process of treating metals which consistsinmelting said metals, and passing the same successively through aplurality of layers of different. solutions containing suitable fluxesfor the purpose of cleaning the same.

2. PlIB PI'OCP/SS of treating metals and ren- (lo-ring them more easy toalloy with other metals which consists in meltingsaid first mentionedmetals; in finely dividing the same; and in causing the finely dividedmolten metals to be subjected to solutions containing reagents capableofchemicallyeleaning the surfaces of the metals.

3. The process of treat1ng a metal and rendering the same more easy toalloy, which,

consists-in finely dividing said metal while H! a molten OOINlItlQH; andIn immed ately passing thesame through successlve layerslnctahsubstantially as described.

of oil. and water containing a chemical capable of cleaning the surfacesof the metal particles.

4.. The process of treating a metal and rendering the same more easy toalloy, which consists in finely dividing said metal while in a moltencondition; and in immediately passing the same through successive layersof oil containing a reagent capable of changing the oxid coated globulesof the metal, and of water containing a chemical capable, of exerting acleaning action upon said The process of: treatlng metals to be used assolders which consists in melting such metals, finely dividing the same,and

bringing the finely divided particles into inmetals while in a moltenand finely divided state into intimate contact with an oil solution anda water solution of a chemical compound, said oil solution containing asolute diflerent from the solute in the water solution, substantially asdescribed. I

In testimony whereof, we affix our signatures, in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE BRYANT.

CHARLES HORACE IVI L\ SON. Vitnesses A. E. V m L,

L. SIMMONDS-

